Pages

Sunday, 22 April 2018

Book Review: The Art of Map Illustration by Hancock, Hill, King & Haworth

Title: The Art of Map IllustrationAuthor: Hancock, Hill, King & HaworthPublisher: Quarto Publishing - Walter FosterPublication Date: 3 April 2018Pages: 144Format:eBook - PDFGenre: Non-Fiction/ArtSource:ARC via NetGalleyIn The Art of Map Illustration, four well-known artists take you on a journey through their unique techniques to map making with a range of media, including pen and ink, watercolor, and mixed media, plus tips and advice for working digitally.Each artist provides a brief overview of their recommended tools and materials, along with tips and inspiration for using, exploring, and experimenting with the medium. From intricate line drawings, to bold and colorful city maps, you will bring your favorite locations to life, and use visual storytelling to express time and place.Packed with engaging instruction, professional tips, and beautiful finished artwork, The Art of Map Illustration is the perfect resource for contemporary artists seeking to learn the time-treasured art form of cartography.

The Art of Map Illustration is a colourful, interesting read. However, it was not entirely what I'd expected. It focused strongly on cities and real places, whereas I had anticipated at least one chapter looking at creating fantasy maps and works of pure imagination. That said, for those interested in modern cartography that incorporates cartoon-style imagery, this is a useful text, particularly since it outlines techniques for both traditional and digital map making. It is a vibrant, nicely presented book. I only wish it had been a little broader in its scope. As such, I would give it 3.5 stars. This is probably not a book that will interest fantasy writers wishing to create maps for their worlds, but it will be pertinent for people such as travel bloggers, who may like to include quirky maps in their posts to illustrate their trips, or journal enthusiasts, who include artwork in their BuJo to commemorate a trip.